Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua play host to a multitude of fantastic set-ups spanning both the Pacific and Caribbean. The Pacific coast is famed for its classic beach breaks and long points which work all year round. Fast breaking hollow but accessible waves have made the Pacific coast an extremely popular destination. Less swell arrives during the dry season but offshore winds blow nearly every day. Costa Rica is by far the most popular and crowded of these countries due mainly to its accessibility. The region was first surfed sometime in the early 1960s by visiting Americans. The Caribbean side receives surprisingly good swell in-season and reefbreaks such as Coast Rica's Salsa Brava and Panama's Bocas Del Toro are equal to most comparisons. Water temperatures rarely vary, hovering around 27-28Â°C or 81 to 82Â°F.

Webcams

These are either live cameras and video or a daily photo taken by a surfer. The former has the advantage of being up to the minute, the later is more likely to be taken to accurately reflect the current conditions - streaming video cams give the best of both worlds. Check the update date carefully.